United States, Madison Heights, MI, Adhesive Technologies

Director of Application Engineering – Automotive Components NAMEX

At Henkel, you can build on a strong legacy and leading positions in both industrial and consumer businesses to reimagine and improve life every day. If you love challenging the status quo, join our community of over 47.000 pioneers around the globe. Our teams at Henkel Adhesive Technologies help to transform entire industries and provide our customers with a competitive advantage through adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. With our trusted brands, our cutting-edge technologies and our disruptive solutions, you will have countless opportunities to explore new paths and develop your skills. Grow within our future-led businesses, our diverse and vibrant culture and find a place where you simply belong. All to leave your mark for more sustainable growth.

Dare to make an impact?

YOUR ROLE

• Lead the regional AE team for Automotive Components, setting strategic direction and empowering AE Managers to drive performance across all AE segments, Key Account Management (KAM), business development, and Technical Center. Focus on coaching and mentoring senior managers and engineers.

• Provide strategic oversight for technical guidance to key accounts at global and critical regional customers. Your involvement will be primarily with high-stakes accounts, escalations, or when a significant business impact is involved. Drive technical strategy rather than day-to-day troubleshooting.

• Lead efforts in setting the framework for value-added visits, such as audits, troubleshooting, and demonstrations, but delegate the execution to your AE Managers. Focus your own engagement on key global or regional customer relationships and escalated strategic issues.

• Lead the collaboration with application equipment and technology development teams at a strategic level, ensuring innovation aligns with business goals. Champion customer feedback and KPI results at an executive level and ensure your managers execute process improvements.

• Oversee laboratory workflow and prioritization through senior managers and lab leads. Ensure that the regional team is structured and empowered to deliver on key customer and market needs, driving efficiency and reporting at a higher level.

• Lead the development of technical training programs by setting the vision and ensuring your AE Managers and senior technical staff execute training for internal teams and external customers. Focus on providing mentorship and career development for senior engineers and managers in the team.

• Ensure high-level compliance with Henkel’s safety, legal, and environmental standards. Your role is to set the direction and partner with senior teams on sustainability initiatives and marketing efforts that align with Henkel’s global and regional goals.

YOUR SKILLS

• Extensive experience (10+years) leading large, cross-functional teams at a director level, including managing senior leaders and influencing global/regional strategies.

• Deep technical knowledge, with the ability to guide strategy and innovation within adhesives, coatings, or related industries, while delegating tactical problem-solving to your senior team. Bachelor's degree in a technical field required.

• Proven ability to work cross-functionally and globally, setting the direction and aligning strategies at an SBU and total overall business level.

• Success in developing leadership capabilities within your team and fostering technical expertise at a senior level.

• Ability to influence global and regional strategies, communicate effectively with executive stakeholders, and ensure alignment.

• Capable of managing a wide range of responsibilities and traveling as needed (20-50%) to support high-level business needs. This is a hybrid role with the option of working remotely up to 2 days per week (provided business requirements are met).

The salary for this role is $155,000.00 - $175,000.00. This is the range that we in good faith anticipate relying on when setting wages for this position. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range. This salary range may also be modified in the future.

Henkel does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Unsolicited referrals and resumes are considered Henkel property and therefore, Henkel will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited referral. At Henkel's request only, preferred vendors may be invited to refer talent for specific open positions. In these cases, a fully-executed agreement with Henkel must be in place and current.

At Henkel, we come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe the uniqueness of all our employees is the power in us. Become part of the team and bring your uniqueness to us! All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and other legally protected characteristics. We welcome all applications.

JOB ID: 24070630

Contract & Job type: Regular - Full Time

Contact information for application-related questions: talent.acquisition@henkel.com

Please do not use this email address for sending your application or CV. To apply, please click on the "Apply Now" button below. Applications sent via e-mail will not be accepted.